Local people [corrected] the police charge end up at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. The Magistrates there decide guilt or not and pass sentence. So it's an incredibly important institutuion for the local community. Although you can turn up and watch justice being done in person the courts are remarkably opaque on the internet.
You can't even find out who the magistrates are for instance. Nor who has been found guilty and what sentences have been awarded. It's a major gap in understanding what has happened to crime locally. I'm off to the Islington Community Safety Board this evening (no i am not sure what that is either) to see if that sheds any light. But here are some fasinating slides from Highbury Corner about their approach to sentencing, including a 'you the magistrate' game:
More examples of sentencing process here:
http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/sentencingexamples.php?PHPSESSID=it5jciv5fnl89fggpvdi6tit32